Closure and fastening means



April 8, 1952 s; P. KINNEY ET AL CLOSURE AND FASTENING MEANS 2 SHEETS SHEET 1 Original Filed Aug. 2, 1943 y Rim 02 (m W M Wm V T wwfl April 8, 1952 s. P. KINNEY ET AL CLOSURE AND FASTENING MEANS 2s'HEETs sHEET 2 Original Filed Aug. 2, 1943 INVENTORS wynel? Kulney .56 Z llouz'sM Hartwi c];

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 8, 1952 CLOSURE AND FASTENING MEANS Selwyne P. Kinney, Grafton, and Louis M. Hartwick, Beaver, Pa., assignors to S. P. Kinney Engineers, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Griginal application August 2, 1943, Serial No.

497,020, now Patent No. 2,455,181, dated November 30, 1948. Divided and this application November 16, 1946, Serial No. 710,376

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a closure and fastening means therefor, such as a manhole cover, and more particularly, to a manhole cover of a releasably securable type for use with pressure apparatus requiring a hermetical seal for the manhole cover but occasional accessibility through the manhole for repairs and maintenance of the apparatus.

This application is a divisional application of our co-pending patent application, Serial No. 497,020, entitled Strainers, filed August 2, 1943, now Patent No. 2,455,181, issued November 30, 1948, in which there is shown and described manhole cover of the type embodied in the present invention and particularly adapted for use with an industrial strainer of the basket type.

Basket strainers, although applicable for the straining of various solid-bearing liquids, are widely employed in systems for inducting water from natural streams and rivers to power stations and other industrial establishments.

In such use, the amount of solids may vary widely, as for example, in times of freshets or heavy waterfall, considerably more debris may be present than at normal times, and not infrequently schools of fish may be entrained.

Basket strainers may be designed to provide multiple compartments to enable individual strainers to be used alternatively or successively, or both together, or even enables both or all strainers to be completely closed, eliminatin the requirement for cut valves which would otherwise be necessary.

An object of the present invention is to provide a manhole cover, particularly one in combination with a basket strainer of the above-described type, to provide a structure in which the valves are accessible for servicing through the same opening that gives access to the basket for removal and replacement, and in addition, provides a door for this opening that effectively seals it but which may be quickly and easily operated. Although the manhole cover of the present invention will be, by way of example, illustrated and described in connection with basket strainers, it is understood that it is not to be restricted thereto, since it has general application to other structures.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a view in front elevation of the closure or fastening means embodying our invention shown in combination with a basket strainer, only half of the entire structure being shown, the

the doorways.

view being substantially in the plane of line I-I of Fig. 4;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the door alone shown in Fig. l, the closure means, however, bein removed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the door latching levers shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5;

Fig. i is a broken transverse section in substantially the plane of line IV-IV of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section through one of the strainer units substantially on the plane of line V-V of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, a multiple strainer unit utilizing two baskets is shown, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 4. It comprises two end members 2 and 3, being at the inlet and outlet ends, respectively, and being of similar construction, the end member 2 having a flanged connection 4. for connection to an inlet pipe, and it is flanged at 5 to set on the body to which it is bolted. Likewise, the end member 3 has a flanged pipe connection 6 for connection with an outlet pipe, and has a flange I to set on the body. Pipe connections 4 and 6 are in axial alinement.

The main body of the strainer is designated 8. Viewed from the top, it is generally of a beanlike'shape, this bean-shaped upper portion being designated 9, and it encloses a chamber l0 coextensive with the area of the end portion. It is surrounded by a flange l I on which the flange 1 of the end member 3 is bolted. The opposite end portion 12 of the body is of a similar beanlike shape, enclosing a chamber l3 and having a flange l4 thereabout to which flange 5 of end member 2 is bolted.

Between the two bean-shaped end portions 9 and I2, the front face 8a of the main body memher is flat and there are two axially extending chambers i5 and is, which in transverse section are of a somewhat U-shaped form, there being a partition wall H (see Fig. 4) separating the two chambers, the chambers being otherwise enclosed by wall portions 18 of the body.

At each end of each chamber I5 and I6 is an end wall l9 with a large opening 20 therethrough constituting a valve port, and a valve seat 2| is formed around each port. Access to the chambers l5 and I 6 is provided by doorways 22 formed in the front face 8a of the body, which doorways are normally closed by doors 23, hereinafter more fully described.

Formed in the wall structure of the chambers l5 and I6 above the lower valve ports 20 are grooved guideways that extend rearwardly from These guides receive a rim structure 25 on the open end of cylindrical strainer basket 25 that may be slid in and out through the doorway. Preferably, to increase its perforate area, the bottom of the basket has a reentrant portion 21 concentric with the outer Walls of the basket. The rim structure 25 of the basket, cooperating with the guides and the doors 23, blocks the flow of fluid except through the basket.

Carried on the end member 2 are two glands 28 through which pass valve stems 29, on the inner end of each of which is a mushroom valve, one valve cooperating with each of the lower valve ports 20. The valve stems have operating hubs 3| with radial spokes 32 thereon for closing and opening the valves. Similarly, on the end member 3 are glands 28' for valve stems 29. On the inner end of each stem is a mushroom valve 30', the valves 30' cooperating with upper ports 20. Valve stems 29' have operating hubs 3| with spokes 32'.

Each door 23 is a square or rectangular panel, outwardly convexed with a rim portion 23a around its periphery to seat and seal against the frame about the doorway. This rim may carry a sealing gasket, as indicated.

Supported on lugs 33 arranged at, intervals around the door, near the edge thereof, are levers 34, the outer ends of which project beyond the rim. The inner ends of the levers extend under a common rectangular pressure plate 35 which is slidable on a fixed center post 36 for movement toward or away from the door. A nut 31 with handles or spokes thereon, threaded on the outer end of the post 36, is provided for moving the pressure plate (see Fig.

The outer ends of the levers project into yokes 38 pivoted on the body so as to be moved into or out of engagement with the levers. Each yoke has an adjustable bolt 39 thereon against which the lever end bears, and which forms an adjustable abutment. When all of the levers are engaged with their respective yokes, the hub or nut 31 is screwed down, causing the pressure plate 35 to simultaneously press down the inner ends of all the levers 34. The outer ends of these levers, being resisted by the yokes, the door is forced down on its seat about the doorway, sealing it in place. The pressure is effective about the edge of the door over the gasket, and by adjusting the bolts 39, the pressure at different points can be equalized or varied as may be required.

In operation, the door 23 may be closed by swinging it to a position in which its flange 23a engages with the Wall I8. The yokes 38 are then pivoted to the position shown in Figure 5 with the ends of the bolts 39 engaged with the outwardly extending arms of the levers 34. The bolts are then adjusted to position the levers 34 about their pivots so that the inwardly extending arms of the levers 34 will occupy substantially identical relative positions with respect to the door 23. Where the levers 34 are so positioned by adjustment of the bolts 39 the bearing surfaces at the terminal ends of the inwardly extending arms of the levers 34 will be positioned in a common plane and all of such surfaces will bear against the under surface of the pressure plate 35. The nut 31 may then be turned down on the bolt 36 to move the pressure plate 35 toward the door 23. This movement will apply a clamping force to the levers 34 which will be applied about the peripheral edges of the door 23, the bolts 39 acting as a fulcrum for the levers 34. This clamping action against the door 23 will be applied uniformly around the edges of the door. After operation of the nut 31, the bolts 39 may be adjusted again to secure additional pressure Where needed.

Attention is particularly invited to the fact that the arrangement of the pressure plate 35 With respect to the levers 34 is operable to apply equal clamping moments to all of the levers 34 notwithstanding the fact that their inner ends terminate at varying distances from the center post 36. By reason of the fact that the door 23 is of rectangular shape and the levers 34 which are of equal length are pivotally mounted at spaced intervals about the peripheral edge of the door, it will be seen that the terminal ends of their inwardly extending arms will be positioned at, different distances from the center post 36. The levers 34 being of equal length will exert identical clamping forces by reason of the plate 35 bearing equally against all of the levers 34. The adjustment of the bolts 39 enabling positioning of the levers 34 independently of each other is necessary in order to secure this action. In addition, after operation of the nut 31, the bolts 39 may be adjusted to increase or decrease the pressure where needed.

Each door may be provided with a pet cock 40 for testing the pressure in the compartment or draining water therefrom or admitting air thereto. In addition, a pipe 4| leads from each compartment through a hand valve 42 to a pipe 43 that connects into the chamber at one end of the structure to enable pressure on opposite sides of the large valves to be equalized, or relieved, while a second valve (not shown) connected to valve 42 opens to a drain.

The strainer as thus constructed is of unique and rugged construction. It may be used vertically or horizontally Without change. Baskets can be quickly removed and replaced. The valves and valve seats are accessible through the doorways that open into the basket compartments, and mud or debris can be easily removed therefrom or gaskets replaced. In times when the water carries much foreign material, or when added flow of water is required, both compartments may be used at the same time, giving double the normal straining area. Likewise, both compartments can be closed off at either or both ends so that no water or liquid can flow therethrough, thus eliminating need for separate cut-off valves in the system ahead of or beyond the strainer unit. Incidentally, the positions of the valve stems indicate the positions of the valves.

While the door closure and fastening means has been particularly described for use with a strainer, it may be employed with housings enclosing other devices instead. It will also be understood that various modifications or changes may be made in the construction within the contemplation of our invention and under the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A manhole cover having a threaded post thereon and clamping levers of equal length pivotally supported on the cover at unequal distances fromthe threaded post, said levers being supported between their ends with outwardly extending arms of equal length for engaging clamping yokes and inwardly extending arms by which the levers may be operated, a pressure plate slidable on the post overhanging and bearing against the terminals of all of the inwardly extending arms, and a nut on said post bearing against the pressure plate for applying pressure thereto, any increment of movement of said plate thereby effecting equal increments of movement of all of said levers notwithstanding their unequal location from the threaded post, and means for adjusting any lever in the direction of its swing relatively to said plate and independently of any other lever.

2. In a closure, a cover for an opening in a housing, said cover having peripheral edges engageable with the housing in an area about and defining the opening to be closed, a threaded post positioned centrally of said cover, a plurality of clamping levers of equal length having pivotal connections to said cover at spaced intervals along its peripheral edges and at varying distances from said post, said levers having outwardly extending arms of equal length for engagement with a clamping fulcrum and inwardly extending arms having bearing surfaces at their terminal ends, a pressure plate mounted for axial movement on said post and having a pressure applying surface engageable with said bearing surfaces, said levers being adjustable independently of each other to position said bearing surfaces for simultaneous engagement by said pressure applying surface, and a nut on said center post bearing against said pressure plate for applyin pressure thereto and thereby equal clamping moments to said levers notwithstanding the varying distance of their pivotal connections from said center post.

3. In a closure, a cover for an opening in a housing, said cover having peripheral edges engageable with the housing in an area about and defining the opening to be closed, a threaded post positioned centrally of said cover, a plurality of clamping levers of equal length having pivotal connections to said cover at spaced intervals along it peripheral edges and at varying dis- 6 tances from said post, a support having a plurality of yokes movable respectively to operating positions providing fulcrums for said levers, said levers having outwardly extending arms of equal length for engagement with said fulcrums and inwardly extending arms having bearing surfaces at their terminal ends, a pressure plate mounted for axial movement on said post and having a pressure applying surface engageable with said bearing surfaces, an adjustment on each of said fulcrums for adjusting the position of said levers independently of each other to position said bearing surfaces for simultaneous engagement by said pressure applying surface, and a nut on said center post bearing against said pressure plate for applying pressure thereto and thereby equal clamping moments to said levers notwithstanding the varying distance of their pivotal connections from said center post, said adjustment being further operable to equalize the clamping pressure exerted by said levers by reason of the operation of said nut.

SELWYNE P. KINNEY.

LOUIS M. HARTWICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 438,030 Strout Oct. 7, 1890 612,050 Morse Oct. 11, 1898 1,245,409 Voss Nov. 6, 1917 1,375,134 Davis Apr. 19, 1921 1,491,214 Underwood Apr. 22, 1924 2,199,765 Velie May 7, 1940 2,477,042 Velie Aug. 17, 1948 

